Display rack



June 27, 1939.

D. H. BITNEY 2,163,866

DISPLAY RACK Filed April 21, 1958 INV ENTOR. fi. B0712 ATTORNEYS Patented June 27, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DISPLAY RACK Application April 21, 1938, Serial No. 203,268

Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in display racks.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a display rack which may be 5 made of quite light material and at the same time is strong and rigid and capable of sustaining quite heavy loads.

Second, to provide a display rack having these advantages which is economical in structure and attractive in appearance.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed out in the claims.

II A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my improved rack.

Fig. 2 is an end View with a box or tray shown. in position upon the shelf by dotted lines.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation.

Fig. 4 is an end view with the rack collapsed, the shelf being removed.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view partially in section illustrating the structural details.

Fig. 6 is a detail section on line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary view partially in section further illustrating structural details.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view of a slightly modified construction.

The embodiment of my invention illustrated comprises pairs of crossed supports I, I, each support comprising a pair of substantially parallel spaced longitudinal members 2, 2, having truss block elements 3 arranged between them at spaced intervals and welded thereto as shown at 4. These supports are, in the preferred embodiment, formed of rod-like material folded upon itself.

Washer-like eye members 5 are welded upon the sides of these supports at their upper ends, the Welds being shown at 6. Other washer-like eye members I are Welded to the sides of the supports at their crossing points and receive the tie rod 8. This tie rod 8 has a laterally turned end 9 at one end thereof, this laterally turned end portion being disposed between the longitudinal members of the outer support at one end of the rack. The other end of the tie rod is provided with a clamping and adjusting nut ID at its other end.

I provide combined display panels and reinforcing members extending between the corresponding supports of the pairs of supports. These reinforcing members consist of the panels ll having bead-like edges receiving the tie rods l2, the ends of the panels abutting the supports.

The panels with the tie rod provide an effective brace and strut structure making the rack very rigid even when made of light material such as 6 heavy wire or light rod, that is, of course other than the sheet metal panel parts.

The shelf I4 is preferably V-shaped as in this embodiment it is designed to receive boxes as indicated at I5. This shelf has beads or rolls I6 10 in its edges receiving the shelf supporting rods I'l extending through the eyes 5 in the upper ends of the supports. If desired, the rods l2 may be welded between the longitudinal members and thereby constitute both thrust rods and supports 15 for the panels. This structure of course does not have the advantage of the knock-down feature.

My improved rack is very strong and rigid, is attractive in appearance and may be collapsed quite compactly when the shelf is removed. 0

I have not attempted to illustrate certain other embodiments or adaptations which I contemplate as it is believed that this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my improvements as may be desired. 25

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a display rack, the combination of pairs of crossed supports each comprising substantially 0 parallel spaced longitudinal members and truss block elements arranged between said longitudinal members at spaced intervals and welded thereto, washer-like eye members welded to the sides of the upper ends of said support members 35 and also at the crossing point thereof, a tie rod arranged through said eye members positioned at the crossing point of said supports, combined display panels and reinforcing members consisting of cross rods disposed between the longitudinal 40 members of said supports below their crossing point, and panels having their edges folded over said rods disposed between said supports with their ends in abutting relation thereto, and shelf supporting rods engaging the eye members in the 5 upper ends of said supports.

2. In a display rack, the combination of pairs of crossed supports each comprising rod-like spaced longitudinal members and truss elements arranged between said longitudinal members at 5 spaced intervals, eye members on thesides of the support members, at the crossing point thereof, and a tie rod arranged through said eye members positioned at the crossing point of said support, said tie rod having a laterally turned portion at 55 one end disposed between the longitudinal members of the outer support at one end of the rack.

3. In a display rack, the combination of pairs of crossed supports each comprising rod-like spaced longitudinal members and truss block elements arranged between said longitudinal members at spaced intervals and welded thereto, washer-like eye members welded to the sides of the support members at the crossing point thereof, and a tie rod arranged through said eye members.

4. In a display rack, the combination of pairs of crossed supports each formed of rod material folded upon itself to provide substantially parallel spaced longitudinal members, truss block elements arranged between said longitudinal members at spaced intervals and welded thereto, and rods extending between corresponding supports of the pairs and disposed between the longitudinal members thereof and secured thereto.

5. In a display rack, the combination of pairs of cross supports each comprising substantially parallel spaced rod-like longitudinal members, and spaced rods extending between corresponding supports of the pairs and disposed between the longitudinal members thereof and welded thereto whereby they constitute truss elements.

DEWEY H. BI'INEY. 

